Ignition system



Aug. 1, 1928.

v W. HEMINGWAY, JR

IGNITION SYSTEM Filed July '7, 1925 gnou/Lto@ Patented Aug. 7, 1928..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. l

WILSON HEMINGWAY, JB., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T THE ELEGTROLOGK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI, A COR- PORATION 0F MISSISSIPPI.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

Application led July 7,1925. Serial No. 42,058.

This invention relates-to ignition systems as used in automobiles andy-motor boats and has for its principal purpose to prevent unauthorized use of the system without intei-tering with the accessibility of the spark coils, breaker points, timer, andother components to whichconvenient access must be frequently had Jfor adjustment, repair or replacement. e

Another purpose ot the invention is to lock-the ignition circuit against unauthorized usc in such manner that reestablishment of the circuit can not be readily effected by the use of substitute spark coils or other components.

In one embodiment ot the invention an incased lock switch is provided in the wire or tion circuit is by the use of a substitute4 timer but this is impractic'able becausebf the necessity of disconnecting the gearing and subsequently reti'ming the ignition cirp cr-.it to produce a spark at the proper instant.

Other purposes and advantages of the invention as well as the novel details of con'- struction and arrangement of parts willbe more readily understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

The single feature is a diagrammatic representation ot an ignition system embodying my invention. It is to be understood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other forms of constructionr and arrangements than that shown and that various changes in the details and in the relative arrangement of the parts may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the said invention or the principle thereof.

Referring characters, 5 designates an encased lock switch of the type disclosed in my cepending application, led March 18, 1925, and

bearing Serial Number 16,509. 'For` present purposes this switch mayl be briefly 'lle-- scribed ascomprising a pair of spaced stationary contacts 6 and 7, which cooperate to thev drawing by reference -be shifted into and out of engagement with said stationary contacts by means of a reciprocable actuating stem 9. Movement of this stem in a direction to close the switch is caused by a spring 10-while movement of the stem in the opposite direct-ion to open the switch is controlled by a reciprocable lock barrel 11 including a locking bolt l12 adapted to engage in the opening 13 of the switch casing for locking the switch contacts in the open position shown in the drawing. v 4

In the present instance switch Contact 6 is connected by a conductor 14 to one terminal of the primary winding of the spark coil 15 while the other ,terminal of said winding is connected as shown to the insulated pole of the battery 16. The high tension terminal of the .spark coil is connected in the usual manner byconductor 17 to the distributor 18 while the other stationary Contact 7 of the encased lock switch is connected by a con-ductor 19 to one of the breaker points 2O of the timer structure. The other of the said breaker points is grounded as illustrated. This conductor 19 is inclosed in a tubular armor cable 21 having one end secured in a nipple 22 permanently fastened to the casing of thev switch 5. The other end of said armor or cable is secured in like manner within the neck 23 This casing which encloses the connection of the Conductor 19 is preferably of bur-A glar-proof material and is in ground c011- nection with the timer-distributor. Thus it is apparent that when the switch is open that there is a path to the'ground through the casing which encloses the lock and switch, the armor which encloses the conductor 19 and the walls of the casing 24.

In order to ground the ,conductor 19 when the switch contact 8 is in t-he position shown in the drawings I provide the stationary contacts 24 and 25, theu former, con tact 24:, being grounded to theV casing of the switch by the connection 26, and the latter, contact 25, being connected by a conductor 27 to the contact 7. lVhen lthese'contacts 24 and 25 are' bridged by the contact istv cept' subsequent to removal ofthe timer.

8 it will be evident that conductor 19 is son to the conductor 19.

grounded through the metal casing of the switch and hence this conductor can not be used in any way for conducting current to the breaker points.

The switch casing may be grounded through the automobile structure or in any other manner as may be desired.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the incased lock switch is locked in the open position, as shown in the drawing, the ignition circuit is disrupted; also that the conductor 19, having connection with one of the breaker points 20, is grounded; and also that the circuit cannot be established by the use of ay substitute coil. The only way in which a thief possibly might reestablish the circuit would be either by the substitution of a timer, which is not practical because of the necessity of disconnecting the gearing, and subsequently retiming the ignition circuit, or by cutting or otherwise so mutilating' the armor 21 as to enable access of a thief or other unauthorized per- 'Ihe cutting or mutilation of the armor 21 is possible, but the material employed and the construction thereof are such as to'render such cutting or mutilation sufliciently diilicult to render it impractical of accomplishment by a thief.

Having thus fully described what .I now consider to be the preferred embodiment of the invent-ion it Will be understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination in an ignition circuit and a lock therefor, of a metallic casing which encloses the lock and switch, a metallic casing which' is in contact with the timerdistributor casing, and armor which connects said casings, whereby, when the switch is grounded, the fmetallic casings and armor form a path for a ground.

2. In an ignition circuit, a locking device, comprising a switch in which the line contacts are opened and closed by a recipro# eating sliding contact closer, combined with a reciprocatory lock structure by which said closer is operated, whereby the key which operates the lock also operates the circuit 3. In an ignition circuit, a locking device,

comprising a switch in which the line contacts are opened and closed by a reciprocating sliding Contact closer, combined with a reciprocatory lock structure by which said closer is operated, whereby the key which operates the lock also operates the circuit switch, the inward movement of said lock structure introducing a ground into the line leading to the timer and also opening the line.

4. In an ignition circuit, a locking'device, comprising a switch in which the line contacts are opened and closed by a reciprocating cont-act closer, combined with a reciprocatory -lock structure by which said closer is operated, the outward movement of the lock structure operating to close said switch, and theinward movement of said lock structure operating to open the switch and ground the timer-distributor directly and not through the coil.

5. In an ignition circuit, a lockingdevice, a switch, a reciprocatory locking mechanism cooperating therewith, means whereby, upon the release of the locking bolt, said switch isv moved to its closed position, and when the locking mechanism is in locked position the timer-distributor is grounded directly and not through the coil.

6. In an ignition circuit and a lock therefor, a burglar-proof metallic casing which encloses the lock, circuit switch, conductor and connection to the timer-distributor, the Wall of said easing constituting a path for a ground when the switch is open.

7. In an ignition circuit and a lock therefor, a burglar-proof metallic casing which encloses the lock, circuit switch, conductor and connection to the timer-distributor, the wall of said casing constituting a path for a ground when the switch is open, and means to ground the circuit breaker contact directly and not through the coil.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

WILSON HElYIINGWAY, JR. 

